Blast investigation aims at elements within TNI

Blast investigation aims at elements within TNI

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said the
investigation into Wednesday's blast at the Jakarta Stock
Exchange building now was aimed at elements within the Indonesian
Military.

Marzuki asserted that only the military had the resources to
carry out the bombing. "Only they have the training to do that,"
he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has instructed Indonesian Military
(TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. to assist police in
investigating the bombing.

Marzuki noted that based on the type of equipment used in the
bombing it was clear which parties should be investigated.

"So really the area or place in which the answers should be
searched for can already be narrowed down," he said, adding that
"there is a view (the investigations should be) directed toward
the TNI".

The 34-story Jakarta Stock Exchange building was rocked by a
powerful explosion on Wednesday which left at least 10 people
dead and dozens others injured. Police have said as many as 15
people died in the blast, though they have not identified all of
the victims.

A police forensics team has said the blast was caused by a
bomb containing over one kilogram of TNT, the highly flammable
toxic compound trinitrotoluene. The blast left a 60-centimeter
hole on the second level of the building's basement parking lot.

Another one-square-meter hole was found on the first floor of
the parking lot.

Marzuki said if evidence was found linking elements within TNI
to the bombing and the investigation was then halted, then there
was something wrong within the TNI.

"If there is something wrong within the ranks of the military,
then the reforms will cease," he remarked.

When asked if he believed there was a connection between the
blast and former president Soeharto's trial, the second session
of which was due to be held on Thursday, the day after the
bombing, Marzuki acknowledged a "coincidence" but refused to
speculate.

"We don't want to place a correlation (between the events) or
confirm a correlation," he said.

At the Jakarta Stock Exchange building on Friday, the owners
of vehicles damaged in the explosion were allowed to claim their
cars after showing the necessary vehicle registration documents.

The cleanup of the parking lot also began on Friday, with
workers using flashlights as they cleared the debris. Some parts
of the basement parking lot remain inundated with water.

Relatives of victims of the bombing came to the building to
lay flowers in remembrance of their loved ones.

Police said at least nine people had been questioned in
connection to the incident, adding that the questioning focused
on gathering information about the bombing.

Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Supt. Hari Montolalu
said a total of 26 witnesses were due to be questioned, including
those injured in the blast. (mds)